• The existing 12-team playoff format works neatly for the Big Ten.
• The Big Ten shot for the moon with some CFP bracket ideas that failed to gain traction. Maybe, that’s the point: Stall, and prolong 12 team format.
• SEC, ACC and Big 12 aligned behind a 16-team plan. Tony Petitti’s conference stood alone in objection.

Short of any evidence proving Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti masterminded this whole thing, let’s call it accidental genius or unintentional brilliance.

Petitti persistently gumming up the works of College Football Playoff expansion has him falling buttocks backward into the perfect playoff format for the Big Ten: the status quo.

The existing 12-team playoff format works neatly for Petitti’s conference.

If the past two seasons prove a reliable guide, the Big Ten would not substantially benefit from the addition of four more at-large playoff bids that increase the bracket to 16 teams.

The first four teams out last year were Alabama, Miami, Mississippi and South Carolina. This year’s sore four were Notre Dame, Brigham Young, Texas and Vanderbilt.

Notice what’s missing from those quartets? Big Ten teams.

No evidence a 16-team playoff would help Big Ten

The SEC, ACC and Big 12 each got on board with a 5+11 playoff model this past offseason that, if approved, would expand the bracket for the 2026 season. The Big Ten stood alone in opposition to the 5+11 plan, with Petitti refusing to add four extra at-large bids or award the CFP selection committee more clout in determining the field.

Petitti countered with other ideas that failed to gain widespread traction, such as play-in games or pre-assigning multiple automatic bids for each of the Power Four conferences. When the Big Ten’s preferred 4+4+2+2+1+3AL format — say that three times quickly — failed to garner necessary support, the conference moved on to blue-sky ideas involving 24 or more teams, bloated with automatic bids.

As Petitti mused aloud at Big Ten media days whether an 8-4 Big Ten making the playoff might be just what this sport needs — a belief to which he alone subscribes — I thought to myself: This man is not serious about CFP expansion. He’s just wasting time.

Perhaps that’s the point. Cook up some never-going-to-happen expansion ideas to create a smokescreen, while the 12-team playoff that works well for the Big Ten marches on in perpetuity.

The Big Ten qualified the most teams, four, in the inaugural 12-team playoff, and Ohio State won the national championship. In this year’s encore, it qualified its top three teams: Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes earned first-round byes, while the Ducks are seeded No. 5.

Yes, this format works for the Big Ten.

Is Big Ten ideating or simply stalling CFP expansion?

The playoff cannot expand or evolve its format without the Big Ten’s agreement, because Petitti’s conference and the SEC remain the two power brokers with the strongest grip on the wheel.

As CFP executive director Rich Clark put it before the season, the Big Ten and SEC failing to align behind a playoff expansion plan would push forward the status quo of 12 teams.

If Petitti’s next proposal involves a 200-team bracket with 19 automatic bids for the Big Ten and nine rounds of play-in games, then we’ll know for certain he’s just running interference to realistic expansion to prolong the current format.

A 5+11 playoff could help the ACC and Big 12 qualify multiple teams with more frequency.

BYU President C. Shane Reese told me in October, “I think the best setup is 16 teams.”

His mood is shared by many.

“The move to 16 should be a priority,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said last month.

Along with creating more avenues for the ACC and Big 12, extra at-large bids would help hatch more access for the SEC’s secondary and tertiary tiers.

What would it do for the Big Ten? Zilch, the past two seasons, anyway.

The Big Ten’s crème de la crème is as good or better as that of any conference, including Sankey’s SEC. Move beyond the Big Ten’s top tier, though, and into the messy middle, and the conference lacks the depth of playoff contenders housed in the SEC.

So, Petitti shot for the moon with his auto-bid-focused plan that would pre-assign the same number of automatic bids for the Big Ten as the SEC.

When SEC coaches balked at that idea, the Big Ten pivoted to other far-fetched plans, while refusing to take up the 5+11 proposal.

Perhaps, Petitti’s plans started as a way to try to gain playoff access for 8-4 Iowa or to simply create more TV inventory. But, by now, you can see how maybe the Big Ten’s strategy circuitously morphed into keeping 9-3 Texas out, stalling expansion and preserving the field at 12 teams, a size and shape that works best for the Big Ten.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

(This story was updated to add a video.)

Michigan interim president Domenico Grasso issued an update regarding former football coach Sherrone Moore’s firing in a video posted to YouTube on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Grasso, who was named interim president on May 9, said the school is continuing its investigation to uncover any other potential misconduct, not only in the football program but throughout the entire athletic department.

Moore was fired last week for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. He was later arrested and charged with felony home invasion of the apartment of the staff member a few hours after his firing. Moore was also charged with misdemeanor stalking and breaking and entering.

“We are continuing the investigation of Coach Moore’s actions to uncover any additional germane and material information and to assess whether there may be related misconduct by others,” Grasso said in the video. “And we will not stop there. We have expanded the Jenner & Block assignment to include an independent evaluation of culture, conduct and procedures throughout our athletics department. In parallel, we are committed to strengthening the functional capacity of our university-wide Ethics, Integrity, and Compliance Office within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.”

Grasso also mentioned the qualities the school is looking for in its next football coach.

‘We intend to hire an individual who can and will instill that spirit and will represent the highest values that our university holds dear,’ Grasso said. ‘We will hire an individual who is of the highest moral character, and who will serve as a role model and respected leader for the entire football program, and who will, with dignity and integrity, be a fierce competitor.’

The interim president also said the university won’t be distracted by speculation and rumors. Grasso said the university will ‘leave no stone unturned’ in the investigation.

‘Any further action we take will be based on credible evidence and findings developed through a rigorous investigation,’ he said. ‘If the University learns of information through this investigation or otherwise that warrants the termination of any employee, we will act swiftly, just as we did in the case of Coach Moore. I ask that you keep an open mind, allow investigators to do their work, and not make assumptions. I commit to doing the same.”

Michigan’s athletic department has faced a few scandals in recent years, including the firing of Moore. The university was struck with huge fines from the NCAA following an investigation of an advanced sign-stealing operation, which spanned multiple seasons and was led by former staffer Connor Stalions.

Then-head coach Jim Harbaugh, who’s now the head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, received 14 years in show-cause penalties, which essentially bars him from ever coaching at the collegiate level again.

‘This is no doubt a challenging time for our community,’ Grasso said. ‘I understand the anger and disillusionment that many in our community may be experiencing, but our core values and principles will be embodied in how we respond to these challenges and will reflect our character.’

AI-assisted summary
• Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua criticized NFL referees during an online live stream.
• Nacua suggested officials make calls for attention and want to be on television.
• Nacua also discussed a canceled visit to the Rams’ facility by streamers Adin Ross and N3on.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua called out NFL referees in an online live stream. 

“The refs are the worst … these guys wanna be – these guys are lawyers,” Nacua said alongside streamers Adin Ross and N3on. “They want to be on TV, too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you just saw me on “Sunday Night Football?” Like, ‘that wasn’t PI (pass interference), but I called it.’

“These guys are normal human beings too.” 

A player slandering NFL officiating that explicitly typically receives a fine. Nacua and the Rams are playing “Thursday Night Football” against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 18, when he’ll presumably address the remarks. 

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the NFL Referees’ Association (NFLRA) is set to expire May 31, and according to a league memo distributed to teams and obtained by several outlets, the NFL is pushing for a performance-based model as it continues negotiations ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

The memo also explained that the NFL has ‘engaged in bargaining with the NFLRA to extend the current agreement since the summer of 2024, and to date, those discussions have been unsuccessful.’

“I thought my team communicated. I guess there was no communication,” Nacua told the pair via phone on the live stream. “Especially then, when Coach found out, he didn’t (expletive) with that. Just because of the short week. Let me handle business on Thursday, then we should be good.”

Nacua ranks second this season in both catches (102) and receiving yards (1,367). 

For Diego Pavia, December should have marked the start of a carefully orchestrated four-month march to the NFL draft.

The Vanderbilt quarterback had already positioned himself as a Heisman Trophy finalist after leading his school to its first 10-win season. Along the way, he established himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football, totaling more than 4,000 combined yards and 36 touchdowns on the year. Though his pro prospects lagged significantly behind those of his peers at the ceremony in New York, Pavia earlier in the week accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he would try to build the case that he possesses the necessary tools to be a trustworthy passer whom a team could bring along.

Then came the massive unforced error.

After finishing second in Heisman voting to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza on Saturday, Pavia reposted a picture of himself in front of Vanderbilt’s offensive line, writing ‘(Expletive)-ALL THE VOTERS’ with a thumbs down emoji and ‘BUT … FAMILY FOR LIFE.’ A video also circulated on social media of Pavia at a club giving the middle finger to a sign that read ‘(expletive) INDIANA.’

The blowback arrived as swiftly as an SEC defensive end barreling down on him. On Sunday, he posted a lengthy apology.

‘To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful,’ Pavia wrote. ‘I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to. I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful.’

That’s the first of what is sure to be many forthcoming statements of contrition from the quarterback, who likely will be pressed throughout the pre-draft process about his reaction. And while to suggest that this action somehow tanks his stock would be insincere, the misstep serves as another impediment on what already looked like a rather arduous path to the pros.

If Pavia was at least somewhat close to Mendoza – an almost surefire top-five pick and potential front-runner for the No. 1 overall slot – in his draft standing, the incident might be easy to dismiss. But the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner is a long way off from that.

Pavia’s height, play style already work against pro prospects

Listed at 6-foot-0, Pavia is sure to cause a stir with his measurements in Mobile, Alabama, given that multiple reports say he might not even clear 5-10. The reckless, structure-breaking playing style that sparked his star turn for the Commodores isn’t particularly tenable at the pro level. And the developmental label given to raw, young prospects might not stick for a passer who will be 24 on draft day.

Despite his progress this season, Pavia still has the profile of a late-round pick or even an undrafted free agent.

Pavia now is on notice to present a more polished and palatable version of himself to the myriad coaches and front-office types he’s sure to meet in the coming months. But it will be difficult for him to convince evaluators that this was a mere lapse in judgment. While at New Mexico State, Pavia urinated on the logo in the middle of rival New Mexico’s practice field. And while his brash persona helped amplify his accomplishments to elevate Vanderbilt football to a much larger stage, his repeated antics might not sit well with NFL teams looking for a more humble presence to round out their depth chart.

‘Diego knows his actions were unacceptable and he has apologized,’ athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network on Dec. 15. ‘I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.’

If Pavia is able to convey his competitive fire properly, he’d likely have a captive audience in many NFL coaching staffs. There’s an undeniable allure to an undersized player who worked himself up from the junior college ranks to starring in the SEC, especially while working alongside a group that often was operating at a perceived talent deficit in many of its matchups. Senior Bowl director of football operations Jack Gilmore told AL.com that despite Pavia’s frame, he ‘has everything you want in a quarterback’ and ‘one of the best competitors in the entire draft class.’

Underdog story aside, Pavia’s Heisman heel turn won’t play with NFL execs

For better or worse, the underdog ethos comes through in all of Pavia’s actions.

‘I’ve been doubted my whole life,’ Pavia said in his apology. ‘Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because I’ve learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them – I am grateful for them. – and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that.’

Perhaps this is the start of a course correction for someone who will need to compartmentalize his inner motivations with his public-facing actions. Any NFL decision-maker who wants Pavia to maintain his edge still might expect him to sublimate his energy into behavior that won’t necessitate an apology tour.

And as the cases of Shedeur Sanders and several others have shown, NFL teams want neither hero nor heel from young quarterbacks who begin their career on the bench.

Pavia already was under pressure to show he won’t try to skew heavily toward the former label after a college career in which he frequently went his own way. Now he’ll have to show he won’t revert to the latter category, either.

(This story was updated to add a video.)

Behind a 100-yard rushing performance from quarterback Quinn Henicle and a five-turnover performance from its defense, the Monarchs defeated South Florida 24-10 in the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

In just his second career start, Henicle struggled as a passer, going 11-of-25 for 127 yards, but dominated on the ground with 24 rushes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He picked up a 51-yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining to ice the 10th win of the season for ODU.

Henicle earned the start after starting quarterback Colton Joseph announced his intention to transfer.

USF, without its own starting quarterback, Byrum Brown, and head coach Alex Golesh ― who is headed to Auburn ― struggled to run the ball and turned the ball over five times against the Old Dominion defense.

The Bulls finished with 35 rushes for 52 yards, averaging just 1.5 yards per carry, with a long run of 12 yards. They also turned the ball over five times, including throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble.

Gaston Moore was forced from the game in the fourth quarter after he hit his head on the turf. He did not return, which meant true freshman Locklan Hewlett was thrown into the fire. Moore finished 20-of-28 passing for 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while Hewlett was 7-of-12 passing for 45 yards and an interception.

Two of the three losses for ODU this season came against teams in the College Football Playoff field ― Indiana and James Madison.

South Florida held a 10-7 halftime lead, but was outscored 17-0 in the second half.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out.

Old Dominion vs South Florida score

Old Dominion vs South Florida highlights

Old Dominion-South Florida score: Monarchs 24, Bulls 10 (Final)

Old Dominion-South Florida final stats

Daevon Iles picks off Locklan Hewlett

Daevon Iles picks off a pass near the end zone from Locklan Hewlett and that should do it. It’s the fifth turnover of the game for the Bulls, which led to seven points for the Monarchs.

Quinn Henicle scores a 51-yard touchdown

Quinn Henicle takes a QB keeper and goes 51 yards for a touchdown to extend the Old Dominion lead to 24-10 with 2:24 left in the game.

Henicle has 107 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts. He had a 16-yard run on third-and-5, which helped take more time off the clock one play earlier.

The scoring drive is four plays for 57 yards and takes 1:15 off the game clock.

USF fake punt pass intercepted

Trailing by seven points and time winding down, USF attempts a fake punt, but Jerome Carter picks off a pass from Chase Leon. The Monarchs take over from their own 28-yard line following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Nathanial Eichner misses field goal wide left

Old Dominion misses a chance at a nail in the coffin with Eichner missing a 36-yard field goal. The score remains 17-10 with 5:54 left in the game. The Bulls will take over on their own 18-yard line.

Christian Neptune muffs punt

Christian Neptune muffs a punt that goes off a teammate’s arm from Old Dominion, with USF is about to get the ball back with a chance to tie it. Old Dominion will take over on the Bulls’ 38-yard line with a chance to extend the lead.

Locklan Hewlett in for Gaston Moore

Freshman Locklan Hewlett is in with Gaston Moore out of the game. He is a true freshman and the third-string QB for USF.

Gaston Moore down following long pass to JeyQuan Smith

Gaston Moore is down on the field with the USF medical staff examining him after he completes a pass to Jeyquan Smith. Moore was hit late by an ODU defender and appeared to hit his head on the turf.

His offensive line immediately motioned for the medical team to come out. Moore walked off the field under his own power.

End of third quarter: Old Dominion 17, South Florida 10

Old Dominion holds a 17-10 lead over USF through three quarters in the Cure Bowl. The Bulls will face a fourth-and-5 from the ODU 39-yard line when the fourth quarter commences.

Nathanial Eichner field goal extends ODU lead

Eichner hits a 24-yard field goal to extend the Old Dominion lead to 17-10 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 73 yards and takes 4:13 off the game clock.

De’Shawn Rucker ejected for targeting

De’Shawn Rucker is ejected for targeting on his hit on Quinn Henicle, which keeps the ball with Old Dominion at the USF 9-yard line.

Henicle remains in the game.

Quinn Henicle loses fumble, hurt on rushing attempt

Quinn Henicle loses a fumble following a 12-yard rush. He was hit on the play and is down on the field with an injury.

However, the play is under review for targeting.

Nico Gramatica misses second field goal

Nico Gramatica misses his second field goal of the game, with this coming from 39 yards out. The kick is missed wide left. Gramatica also missed a kick from 48 yards out earlier in the game. He made a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Gramatica entered the game 17-of-21 on his kicks this season.

Trequan Jones gives Old Dominion lead

Facing a third-and-7, running back Trequan Jones finds a big hole after cutting and takes it 22 yards to give Old Dominion a 14-10 lead with 10:06 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is three plays for 25 yards and takes 38 seconds off the clock, coming off the interception from Jerome Carter.

Jerome Carter intercepts Gaston Moore

Gaston Moore throws inaccurately and safety Jerome Carter intercepts his pass. Carter returns the interception for 26 yards to the USF 25-yard line.

Old Dominion begins second half of Cure Bowl on offense

After deterring the decision to possess the ball on the coin toss, Old Dominion will begin the second half on offense. The Monarchs trail South Florida 10-7 after one half of play.

Halftime: South Florida 10, Old Dominion 7

Old Dominion-South Florida halftime stats

Old Dominion turns ball over on botched snap on field goal

Ian Brandt cannot handle the snap on a field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 10-10 at the end of the first half. Instead, Old Dominion does not score and the game will be 10-7 at halftime.

That stalls a drive that went 14 plays for 56 yards and gave the Monarchs the chance to take the lead or tie the game going into halftime.

Earlier in the drive, Quinn Henicle missed a wide-open tight end in the end zone that would have given Old Dominion the lead.

Brandon Crutchfield picks off Gaston Moore

With USF driving, Gaston Moore sails a pass, and it is picked off by Old Dominion’s Brandon Crutchfield with 3:23 left in the first half. The Monarchs begin the drive from their own 20 following an 11-yard return.

Jeremiah Koger TD catch gives USF lead

Gaston Moore hits freshman receiver Jeremiah Koger for a 31-yard touchdown to give USF a 10-7 lead with 7:24 left in the first half. Moore connected with Koger for a 25-yard play on the play before the touchdown.

The scoring drive is three plays for 55 yards and takes 1:03 off the game clock.

Koger has three receptions for 62 yards and the score, while Moore is 10-of-12 passing for 136 yards.

Nico Gramatica misses 48-yard field goal

Nico Gramatica’s field goal from 48 yards is no good, as it misses wide right. USF’s seven-play, 48-yard drive does not produce any points.

End of first quarter: Old Dominion 7, USF 3

Old Dominion holds a 7-3 lead after the first quarter. Quinn Henicle scores the only touchdown of the opening quarter on a keeper.

The Monarchs outgained USF 116-29 in the quarter, including 65-18 in the air.

Quinn Henicle gives Old Dominion lead in Cure Bowl

Quinn Henicle scores on a QB keeper from 6 yards out to give Old Dominion a 7-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. The first-and-goal situation comes after a roughing the passer call on Jahari Grant.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 75 yards and takes 4:36 off the game clock.

Nico Gramatica field goal gives USF lead

Nico Gramatica hits a 28-yard field goal to give USF a 3-0 lead with 5:18 left in the first quarter. Following the turnover, the Bulls drove the ball to the 10-yard line, but saw the drive stall out.

The scoring drive is eight plays for 31 yards and takes 2:03 off the game clock.

Fred Gaskin returns fumble for USF

Fred Gaskin returns a fumble from Old Dominion QB Quinn Henicle for 22 yards to the Monarchs’ 41-yard line. Jarvis Lee sacked Henicle for a loss of 19 and forced the fumble after ODU drove to the USF 18-yard line and looked poised to take the lead.

Old Dominion turns ball over on downs

Old Dominion goes for it on fourth-and-four from the 26-yard line, but the pass falls incomplete, giving USF the ball back. The Bulls’ defense comes up with a big stop with the Monarchs having a short field.

Kris Trinidad, DeAndre Lynch sack ends USF’s first drive

Kris Trinidad and DeAndre Lynch combine for a sack to force a three-and-out on USF’s opening drive. Following the three-and-out, Devin Roche returns a punt for 48 yards to give the Monarchs the ball at the USF 32-yard line for their first offensive possession.

USF opens Cure Bowl on offense

Old Dominion wins the toss and defers to the second half. USF will receive and ODU will defend the north goal.

Pregame

Quinn Henicle stats

With Colton Joseph opting out of the bowl game and entering the transfer portal, redshirt freshman Quinn Henicle earns the start for Old Dominion. Henicle has attempted 15 passes this season and 40 for his career.

Like Joseph, Henicle provides a dual-threat option for the Monarchs. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns last season and has averaged 5.1 yards per carry this season.

• 2024: 14-of-25 (56%) passing for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; 34 rushes for 278 yards and three touchdowns
• 2025: 6-of-15 passing (40%) for 57 yards; 20 rushes for 102 yards

Gaston Moore stats

With Byrum Brown opting out of the bowl game, senior signal-caller Gaston Moore will earn the start for South Florida. Moore is 14-of-20 passing for 54 yards and a touchdown this season.

For his career, Moore is 40-of-64 passing for 327 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in five seasons with Tennessee and USF.

• 2021 (Tennessee): 2-for-2 (100%) passing for six yards
• 2022 (Tennessee): 4-for-5 (80%) passing for 30 yards and an interception
• 2023 (Tennessee): 4-for-10 (40%) passing for 36 yards; Three rushes for four yards
• 2024 (Tennessee): 16-of-27 (59.3%) passing for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions; Three rushes for 18 yards
• 2025 (South Florida): 14-of-20 (70%) for 54 yards and a touchdown; Seven rushes for 12 yards

What channel is Old Dominion vs South Florida on today?

• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream:Fubo (free trial)

Old Dominion vs South Florida will broadcast nationally on ESPN for the Cure Bowl. Dave Neal and Fozzy Whittaker will call the game from the booth at Camping World Stadium, with Morgan Uber reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Old Dominion vs South Florida time today

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Start time: 5 p.m. ET

The Old Dominion vs South Florida game starts at 5 p.m. ET from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Old Dominion vs South Florida predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Dec. 17

• Spread: South Florida (-4)
• Over/under: 53.2 points
• Moneyline: South Florida -190 ∣ Old Dominion +155

Prediction: South Florida 27, Old Dominion 23

This one may end up being lower scoring than anticipated with both teams’ starting quarterbacks having opted out. The Bulls still have more than enough pieces from the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense to get past what’s been a red-hot Monarchs squad.

Following three successful seasons leading the Bulls, Alex Golesh took the Auburn head coaching job this coaching carousel and will not coach the bowl game. USF will also be without quarterback Byrum Brown, as he is likely to enter the transfer portal.

In the Cure Bowl from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, the Bulls (9-3) will open the new era against Old Dominion (9-3), which will be without starting quarterback Colton Joseph, who has already announced his intention to transfer.

Watch Old Dominion vs South Florida in Cure Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

USF went 23-15 in three seasons under Golesh, but will have Brian Hartline ― formerly the Ohio State wide receivers coach ― taking over the program for the 2026 season. The Bulls’ signature win was an 18-16 win over Florida on Sept. 6.

Meanwhile, the Monarchs ended the season on a five-game winning streak after losing their opener to Indiana. Two of the three losses for ODU this season came against teams in the College Football Playoff field ― Indiana and James Madison.

This marks the first-ever matchup between USF and Old Dominion.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing live updates from the game. Follow along.

Old Dominion vs South Florida score

Old Dominion vs South Florida highlights

Old Dominion-South Florida score: Monarchs 24, Bulls 10 (Final)

Daevon Iles picks off Locklan Hewlett

Daevon Iles picks off a pass near the end zone from Locklan Hewlett and that should do it. It’s the fifth turnover of the game for the Bulls, which led to seven points for the Monarchs.

Quinn Henicle scores a 51-yard touchdown

Quinn Henicle takes a QB keeper and goes 51 yards for a touchdown to extend the Old Dominion lead to 24-10 with 2:24 left in the game.

Henicle has 107 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts. He had a 16-yard run on third-and-5, which helped take more time off the clock one play earlier.

The scoring drive is four plays for 57 yards and takes 1:15 off the game clock.

USF fake punt pass intercepted

Trailing by seven points and time winding down, USF attempts a fake punt, but Jerome Carter picks off a pass from Chase Leon. The Monarchs take over from their own 28-yard line following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Nathaniel Eichner misses field goal wide left

Old Dominion misses a chance at a nail in the coffin with Nathaniel Eichner missing a 36-yard field goal. The score remains 17-10 with 5:54 left in the game. The Bulls will take over on their own 18-yard line.

Christian Neptune muffs punt

Christian Neptune muffs a punt that goes off a teammate’s arm from Old Dominion, with USF is about to get the ball back with a chance to tie it. Old Dominion will take over on the Bulls’ 38-yard line with a chance to extend the lead.

Locklan Hewlett in for Gaston Moore

Freshman Locklan Hewlett is in with Gaston Moore out of the game. He is a true freshman and the third-string QB for USF.

Gaston Moore down following long pass to JeyQuan Smith

Gaston Moore is down on the field with the USF medical staff examining him after he completes a pass to Jeyquan Smith. Moore was hit late by an ODU defender and appeared to hit his head on the turf.

His offensive line immediately motioned for the medical team to come out. Moore walked off the field under his own power.

End of third quarter: Old Dominion 17, South Florida 10

Old Dominion holds a 17-10 lead over USF through three quarters in the Cure Bowl. The Bulls will face a fourth-and-5 from the ODU 39-yard line when the fourth quarter commences.

Nathaniel Eichner field goal extends ODU lead

Nathaniel Eichner hits a 24-yard field goal to extend the Old Dominion lead to 17-10 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 73 yards and takes 4:13 off the game clock.

De’Shawn Rucker ejected for targeting

De’Shawn Rucker is ejected for targeting on his hit on Quinn Henicle, which keeps the ball with Old Dominion at the USF 9-yard line.

Henicle remains in the game.

Quinn Henicle loses fumble, hurt on rushing attempt

Quinn Henicle loses a fumble following a 12-yard rush. He was hit on the play and is down on the field with an injury.

However, the play is under review for targeting.

Nico Gramatica misses second field goal

Nico Gramatica misses his second field goal of the game, with this coming from 39 yards out. The kick is missed wide left. Gramatica also missed a kick from 48 yards out earlier in the game. He made a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Gramatica entered the game 17-of-21 on his kicks this season.

Trequan Jones gives Old Dominion lead

Facing a third-and-7, running back Trequan Jones finds a big hole after cutting and takes it 22 yards to give Old Dominion a 14-10 lead with 10:06 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is three plays for 25 yards and takes 38 seconds off the clock, coming off the interception from Jerome Carter.

Jerome Carter intercepts Gaston Moore

Gaston Moore throws inaccurately and safety Jerome Carter intercepts his pass. Carter returns the interception for 26 yards to the USF 25-yard line.

Old Dominion begins second half of Cure Bowl on offense

After deterring the decision to possess the ball on the coin toss, Old Dominion will begin the second half on offense. The Monarchs trail South Florida 10-7 after one half of play.

Halftime: South Florida 10, Old Dominion 7

Old Dominion-South Florida halftime stats

Old Dominion turns ball over on botched snap on field goal

Ian Brandt cannot handle the snap on a field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 10-10 at the end of the first half. Instead, Old Dominion does not score and the game will be 10-7 at halftime.

That stalls a drive that went 14 plays for 56 yards and gave the Monarchs the chance to take the lead or tie the game going into halftime.

Earlier in the drive, Quinn Henicle missed a wide-open tight end in the end zone that would have given Old Dominion the lead.

Brandon Crutchfield picks off Gaston Moore

With USF driving, Gaston Moore sails a pass, and it is picked off by Old Dominion’s Brandon Crutchfield with 3:23 left in the first half. The Monarchs begin the drive from their own 20 following an 11-yard return.

Jeremiah Koger TD catch gives USF lead

Gaston Moore hits freshman receiver Jeremiah Koger for a 31-yard touchdown to give USF a 10-7 lead with 7:24 left in the first half. Moore connected with Koger for a 25-yard play on the play before the touchdown.

The scoring drive is three plays for 55 yards and takes 1:03 off the game clock.

Koger has three receptions for 62 yards and the score, while Moore is 10-of-12 passing for 136 yards.

Martin Gramatica misses 48-yard field goal

Martin Gramatica’s field goal from 48 yards is no good, as it misses wide right. USF’s seven-play, 48-yard drive does not produce any points.

End of first quarter: Old Dominion 7, USF 3

Old Dominion holds a 7-3 lead after the first quarter. Quinn Henicle scores the only touchdown of the opening quarter on a keeper.

The Monarchs outgained USF 116-29 in the quarter, including 65-18 in the air.

Quinn Henicle gives Old Dominion lead in Cure Bowl

Quinn Henicle scores on a QB keeper from 6 yards out to give Old Dominion a 7-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. The first-and-goal situation comes after a roughing the passer call on Jahari Grant.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 75 yards and takes 4:36 off the game clock.

Nico Gramatica field goal gives USF lead

Nico Gramatica hits a 28-yard field goal to give USF a 3-0 lead with 5:18 left in the first quarter. Following the turnover, the Bulls drove the ball to the 10-yard line, but saw the drive stall out.

The scoring drive is eight plays for 31 yards and takes 2:03 off the game clock.

Fred Gaskin returns fumble for USF

Fred Gaskin returns a fumble from Old Dominion QB Quinn Henicle for 22 yards to the Monarchs’ 41-yard line. Jarvis Lee sacked Henicle for a loss of 19 and forced the fumble after ODU drove to the USF 18-yard line and looked poised to take the lead.

Old Dominion turns ball over on downs

Old Dominion goes for it on fourth-and-four from the 26-yard line, but the pass falls incomplete, giving USF the ball back. The Bulls’ defense comes up with a big stop with the Monarchs having a short field.

Kris Trinidad, DeAnde Lynch sack ends USF’s first drive

Kris Trinidad and DeAnde Lynch combine for a sack to force a three-and-out on USF’s opening drive. Following the three-and-out, Devin Roche returns a punt for 48 yards to give the Monarchs the ball at the USF 32-yard line for their first offensive possession.

USF opens Cure Bowl on offense

Old Dominion wins the toss and defers to the second half. USF will receive and ODU will defend the north goal.

Pregame

Quinn Henicle stats

With Colton Joseph opting out of the bowl game and entering the transfer portal, redshirt freshman Quinn Henicle earns the start for Old Dominion. Henicle has attempted 15 passes this season and 40 for his career.

Like Joseph, Henicle provides a dual-threat option for the Monarchs. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns last season and has averaged 5.1 yards per carry this season.

• 2024: 14-of-25 (56%) passing for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; 34 rushes for 278 yards and three touchdowns
• 2025: 6-of-15 passing (40%) for 57 yards; 20 rushes for 102 yards

Gaston Moore stats

With Byrum Brown opting out of the bowl game, senior signal-caller Gaston Moore will earn the start for South Florida. Moore is 14-of-20 passing for 54 yards and a touchdown this season.

For his career, Moore is 40-of-64 passing for 327 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in five seasons with Tennessee and USF.

• 2021 (Tennessee): 2-for-2 (100%) passing for six yards
• 2022 (Tennessee): 4-for-5 (80%) passing for 30 yards and an interception
• 2023 (Tennessee): 4-for-10 (40%) passing for 36 yards; Three rushes for four yards
• 2024 (Tennessee): 16-of-27 (59.3%) passing for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions; Three rushes for 18 yards
• 2025 (South Florida): 14-of-20 (70%) for 54 yards and a touchdown; Seven rushes for 12 yards

What channel is Old Dominion vs South Florida on today?

• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream:Fubo (free trial)

Old Dominion vs South Florida will broadcast nationally on ESPN for the Cure Bowl. Dave Neal and Fozzy Whittaker will call the game from the booth at Camping World Stadium, with Morgan Uber reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Old Dominion vs South Florida time today

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Start time: 5 p.m. ET

The Old Dominion vs South Florida game starts at 5 p.m. ET from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Old Dominion vs South Florida predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Dec. 17

• Spread: South Florida (-4)
• Over/under: 53.2 points
• Moneyline: South Florida -190 ∣ Old Dominion +155

Prediction: South Florida 27, Old Dominion 23

This one may end up being lower scoring than anticipated with both teams’ starting quarterbacks having opted out. The Bulls still have more than enough pieces from the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense to get past what’s been a red-hot Monarchs squad.